Backyard Blowout - 2004 Mud Bash

Though our wives almost certainly would disagree, we can think of worse things than having a backyard like Naeger's that sports cool mud pits. While there's a good chance it won't win the Lawn of the Month award, it sure is pretty to 'wheelers who like to play in mud.

A modest rock garden gave participants the opportunity to show off their rockcrawling skills. Cory Buermann did just that in his '92 Jeep Cherokee. By the time you read this, Naeger will have constructed a new rockcrawling course and will have held his first rockcrawling competition.

A word of warning: Don't plan on going to a Mud Bash without expecting to get muddy, because you will. Most spectators were covered in mud to some degree, but Naeger had a hose on standby so folks could rinse off before heading out.

All of Naeger's Mud Bash events define grassroots, and it's because of this that they often draw thousands of people for a day of playing off-highway. The facility offers a dual-lane mud-racing course, oodles of mud play pits and other four-wheel-drive-based activities. In addition, creature comforts such as restrooms, race bleachers and food make a visit an enjoyable one.

After an impressive attempt at spanking the main mud hole, something went wrong underwater and this Chevy's front wheels refused to spin. Stuck helplessly, the driver and co-driver did what we all would do and first tried to fiddle with the hubs without getting muddy. When that didn't work, the driver had to take the plunge in an effort to deduce the problem. Nothing worked, and the truck had to be towed.

Greg Smith from Park Hills, Missouri, owns this righteous '67 Kaiser that sports a 501ci Ford engine, C6 tranny, NP205 transfer case, 2 ½-ton Rockwell axles, 32-spline axleshafts and hydraulic steering. Smitty was the crowd favorite as he turned loose more than 700 hp to easily roast the 44-inch Boggers in the four-wheel-drive burnout competition.

The Father of the Mud Bash, Jeremy Naeger, isn't one to watch from the sidelines. He left everyone speechless with a stunning run in the long-jump competition.

Matt Farris' Ford is built to go fast in the mud. The Arnold, Missouri-based truck features a 514ci engine, Matt Heady-built C6 tranny, 14-bolt rear axle, Dana 60 front axle, Detroit Lockers front and rear and 5.14:1 gearing. Traction is provided by cut 44-inch Boggers in the rear and stock 44-inch Swampers in front.

A variety of challenges awaited those who chose to give the obstacle course a whirl. The course included a number of medium-duty challenges, including this nasty culvert that stopped long-wheelbase trucks in their tracks.